His hair is medium length, dark and thick. I can't make out many of his features with his skin in shadow, but I can see that he has a strong jaw and well-worked muscles. His shirtless torso gives way to strong legs and a bit of a bulge in his swimming trunks. Noticing this, I can't help but giggle, the sound carrying over the wind and catching the attention of the wanderer. Embarrassed, I bury my face back into my book, hoping I didn't offend him.
When I hear the quiet shuffle of his feet in the sand, I look up again and am surprised to see him walking toward me. I look up into his eyes, which I see now are blue, with my plump lips slightly parted as if I might apologize for the giggle. As he draws near, he smiles slightly before sitting down next to me in the sand.
“Beautiful sunset, isn't it?” He asks. His voice is soft but deep. I wonder briefly if he's had voice lessons, but push the thought away. I nod and smile, still a bit unsure of what to say. This man, this completely stranger, is so handsome that my mouth is dry.
I'm suddenly ashamed to have my body in this bikini, showing off so much skin and fat rolls. I straighten my back, hoping to smooth some of my curves away so as not to disgust my new friend.
“I hope you don't mind if I sit with you. You just seemed like you could use company, and I could as well.” Turning to me now, I realize he expects a real answer. I clear my throat, blushing a bit.
“It's no problem,” I say, waving my hand. “My name is Brenda.” I hold out my right hand to him, crossing it over my body and unknowingly squeezing my breasts together. I notice him glance down at my chest before shaking my hand.
“It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Alex Rosen.” As he firmly grips my hand, I wonder why his name sounds so familiar. It's probably a common name. “What are you reading?”
I quickly set the book to my side, my face red again. “Ah, er...” I hesitate to answer, which makes him chuckle. I furrow my eyebrow, the corners of my lips pressing down.
“Oh, don't be upset. I know it was a romance novel. My wife used to read them fairly often.” He says, turning back to the water and staring out at the horizon for a few moments. “Is that one any good?”
“It's okay,” I answer, pulling the light book back into my lap and flipping through the pages absent mindedly. “It's one of those billionaire stories, so it's a little bit unrealistic.”
One side of his mouth curls up for just a second as he laughs again. Though he seems sad, Alex is quick to smile and laugh, which puts me at ease even though he's a complete stranger. “Why are you out here all alone?”
He turns his face back to me, a slight droop in his eyelids making me regret asking him such a person question. Examining my face for a few moments, he finally answers, “I'm out here remembering my wife.”
Oh no. Real smooth, Brenda. “I'm sorry,” I mumble.
“No, it's okay. You remind me of her a little bit. Your long hair and the soft curl in it, the way you lick your finger just a little bit before turning the page of your book,” he smiles now, though still sad. “She passed two years ago, of lung cancer. We were only married for a few months.”
My heart and throat clench up, my hand instinctively coming up to cover my chest. “That's awful, I'm so sorry!”
He nods. Digging his feet deep into the sand, Alex lays back against his elbows. His hair blows softly in the wind now as we watch the sun set, the coolness of the air sending a chill up my spine.
“We came here often, any time she had a bad day. The water calmed her, I guess. We actually were here the day she died.”
We both sit in silence while he honors his wife and I wonder what to say. I push my long hair back behind my ear to keep it out of my face, putting my book into my bag and packing up a bit.
“Are you leaving?” The words are full of hurt and tug at my heartstrings as I look into his eyes.
“I have work tomorrow, so I probably should...” I say, the last words trailing off.
We stare at each other for what seems like eternity, and by the time he speaks again I already know what he's going to ask and what I'm going to answer. “Is there any way we could just hang out tonight? I'm not implying anything. I'd just like to buy you dinner, as thanks for keeping me company.”
I look at my watch and see that it's half past 8 and I haven't eaten since lunch. I do have work tomorrow, but not until the late afternoon just for a special meeting where I need to take notes for my boss. A late night wouldn't do too much damage. I nod, which brings the brightest smile to his face I'd seen yet. I can't help but smile back as he gets to his feet, holding out a hand to help me up.
His grip on my hand is firm as he easily helps me off the ground, his chest rippling slightly. “I was thinking, dinner at a restaurant nearby and then some shopping? My treat, of course.”
“No, I couldn't possibly-”
He holds up his hand to silence me. “Please, I insist. It's something I used to treat Emily to.”
I suck in some air, holding it in my lungs as I decide what to do. Finally, I sigh, the wind rushing out of me as I shrug my shoulders. “Alright, if you insist. I walked here from my house a few blocks away, so how are we getting there?”
“We can take my car,” he replies, turning around and walking ahead of me to the parking lot. There are only a few cars still parked there. As we pass one, I notice it's occupied by a couple, making out in the back seat. The rear window is starting to fog, and I smile as I remember doing the same thing when I was a teenager. Alex's deep chuckle tells me he's probably thinking something similar.
The next car is a few spots down, the metal a shiny black. It's obvious it's a new car, but I can't tell how new in the dark. The design is sleek, though, and I wonder how expensive it must have been. Alex digs into the pocket of his shorts, pulling out keys and pressing a button that brings the car to life. Walking over to the passenger side door, he opens it and stands waiting for me to take my seat. What a gentleman!
He closes the door as I slip myself into the seat and buckle myself in. I place my purse and blanket on the ground by my feet and smile up at the handsome man as he sits next to me and puts the key into the ignition. The radio comes to life, classic rock softly playing through the speakers.
“Do you want to listen to music? The drive isn't too long.”
I shake my head. “Whatever you want to do, Alex.” I want to stay pleasant for him. I wonder momentarily why I am offering to go on a date with a complete stranger. This isn't something I've ever done. But the pain in his eyes when he mentions his deceased wife makes me feel obligated to make tonight special for him.
Maybe I was the perfect person for him to find tonight. I know what it's like to lose someone you love, who you spent so long with.
The rest of our drive is in silence. The restaurant is close, like he said. The building is a small one, but even the outside is clean, a feat in rain-prone Florida. The small lights around the window give a sort of Christmas feel to it, adding charm to the architecture that was built for utility more than aesthetics.
"This is it. One of my favorite restaurants, actually. It's small and a little bit pricey, but the food is amazing and the wine selection is good." He exits the car. I admire him as he tosses on a shirt, light gray and textured from the back seat. The V-neck looks good on him, his collar bones proudly displayed for all to see.
Pants now, too. Black slacks, slid over his hairy and muscled legs. Once he's fully dressed, he opens the passenger door. I dig through my purse, hoping I packed a sundress to wear. Oh, thank goodness, there it is. Once he helps me out of the car, I hand Alex my purse and slip the yellow fabric over my head and down over my hips, wiggling a bit. I catch him looking at my chest again, something that would normally have pissed me off, but he seems like a good guy and I was half naked just a second ago.
Walking through the heavy door of the restaurant, we're met with the smells of chicken, steak and spaghetti. A rumble courses through my stomach, loud enough to make Alex look back at me. "Sorry," I say. "I haven
't eaten in a few hours."
"Well, there's no line, so we should be able to sit down and order pretty quick," turning to the hostess, a pretty and petite thing with bright red lips, he continues. "Two. Could you put us in the back, please?"
She nods and turns to lead us to the table. Jutting out his arm a bit, Alex gestures for me to loop my arm through his. My bare skin tingles against the soft cotton of his shirt.
I find myself looking at the floor, blushing like a little girl with a crush. I don't know why, really. Maybe it's just his good looks and amazing manners. I've never been treated well by a man before, not like this. Most men are only kind enough to hide their desire to get me into bed, but Alex seems to be a true gentleman.
Leading me to the table, he helps me sit in my chair and pushes me in a bit. The table is dressed with candles and a silvery white tablecloth that shimmers as the flames flicker. The lights overhead are dim, giving the room a soft yellow look. Sitting across from me in this romantic lighting, I finally get a really good look at my date. His eyes have circles beneath them, and age lines. He seems a bit older than my own 28, but something tells me the tired look and the wrinkles are more from stress and mourning than from age.
"So," he starts, his soft lips forcing a slight smile. "Tell me about yourself, Brenda."
I inhale deeply. I hate this question every time it's asked. "Well... I work as a secretary. In my free time I read and I like to sew a bit, too."
"I see." He pauses, waiting for the waiter to come over. He orders a filet mignon, and I order parmesan chicken with a salad. "That's what Emily used to order," he comments as he fidgets with his napkin. "I hope it isn't a bother for you to be here with me."
Oh, my heart could just break. The poor guy! I shake my head vigorously. "It's really okay! I was a bit lonely anyway, all of my friends are busy tonight." That's not a lie. Friday night and everyone was either working late or studying or out of town. Jerks.
The food comes then, the waiter impressively balancing the large serving platter with one hand. It smells absolutely divine, the sauce on my chicken thick and gooey. As I cut off a piece and daintily chew it, I am overwhelmed by the spices and different tastes from my meal. My eyes roll back in ecstasy before I swallow the bite and remark, "You were right! This really is amazing!"
"I told you! You should really try the filet mignon. Here," he takes his steak knife and easily slices off a red piece of meat, holding it out on his fork over the table. Without even thinking, I lean forward to meet it in the middle, parting my lips and taking the morsel from him. My eyes close and my mouth explodes with the juices of the meat.
"Mmm," I moan. Being fed by this handsome man isn't a bad deal at all. "I'll have to remember this place. I have to eat here again."
"Maybe I'll bring you here again sometime," Alex says before taking another bite of his food. I blink in surprise. Is he enjoying my company that much?
We sip our wine and finish our meal over simple conversation about TV shows and local politics. We both like the reality TV shows with competitions, and spend a good 20 minutes just talking about them, laughing at the ridiculous people picked up for those sorts of things. By the time we're done eating, it's like Alex is an old friend who doesn't need to be told everything about me, and I don't need to be told everything about him.
He has a calming energy about him that pulls me in. When allowed to be at ease, his eyes sparkle with a sort of devilish glint, a sure sign of someone who loves fun and maybe an occasional prank.
Removing his napkin from his lap and setting it next to his plate, he looks up at me with a happy expression. "Ready to go shopping? There's this boutique only a few buildings down that we can walk to."
I nod and off we go, after of course he pays for dinner with his shiny credit card. I saw a quick glance of the check- $85.59 for just the two dinners and some wine! I wonder again where I heard his name before, but he has me outside and laughing while we walk down the sidewalk toward the store before I can dwell too much.
The night has gotten cooler. The slight breeze plays with my wavy hair, long wisps dancing against it. I catch Alex watching me once, and then again, and a third time before we reach the store. I wonder what he could be thinking, looking at me like that. The thought makes my heart beat a little bit faster and my palms a little bit sweaty.
The little boutique's outside is a light shade of blue, a jarring aesthetic change from the dark gray buildings around it. A wind chime on the door moves against the win, the metal tapping against each other. Alex leans forward, opening the door and allowing me through it first.
"Welcome to Le Chat!" The voice is soft and melodious, and I turn my head to find a short, plump woman standing behind the register. "Let me know if I can help you."
"Thank you," I say before turning to the offerings ahead. I pass by a rack of dresses, down to some pretty blouses. A bright yellow one, sheer and dainty, catches my eye. Pulling it off the rack, I admire it before my eyes fall on the price tag.
"Three hundred dollars?!" Sudden anxiety rips through me as I turn to Alex. "I can't let you buy me anything here. There's no way you can afford to treat me to this."
Alex laughs then, leaning back a bit. "Cheryl, could you find this blouse in her size for me?"
Is he on a first name basis with the lady who works here? My heart is still pumping, my breathing still heavy. I just don't understand.
"Brenda, please calm down. I don't mind at all. I'll gladly buy whatever catches your eye here. Please do this for me?"
The plump woman takes the blouse from me, wandering to the back of the shop as I try to calm myself down. If he wants to spend that money on me, maybe I should let him. I don't understand how spending it could make him feel better. Am I taking advantage of him?
"Maybe I should go," I start, trying to walk away from him.
"No, please don't!" He gently tugs on my hand, pulling me toward him. Electricity courses through my body as he pulls me close enough to feel the heat of his body. "I'm really enjoying the night with you. Please, don't leave so soon."
"Alex..." I want to pull away, but at the same time I don't. I can feel a heat rising in my face, and I know I'm blushing, but I can't break my gaze into his eyes. It's not until Cheryl comes back out with my blouse that his magnetic hold on me is released.
"Try this on, please. It should be the right size, but it's best to be sure." She hands me the blouse before winking at Alex.
"Let's get you a skirt and shoes first," Alex says, walking ahead of me to the skirts. One immediately catches my eye, a white skirt with yellow horizontal stripes on it. I look around at other skirts, but I keep coming back to that one. I pick it up and check the size, which is miraculously the right size for me. Purposefully, I don't check the price before handing it to Alex.
I'm not normally a shoe girl. I like purses and sunglasses more than I like shoes. However, that didn't matter even a little bit when I saw the beautiful shoes on display in Le Chat. Black pumps, red stilettos, all designer shoes. One pair in particular catches my eyes though- a pair of yellow platform pumps with white lace delicately capping the toe. I look at them, then at Alex's smiling face, and back to the shoes. If he's willing to buy them, then I have to have them.
"You should get them," he comments quietly. I really don't need to be told twice. Within a few seconds I have the box of those shoes in my size cradled in my arms. Cheryl comes back over to us, holding a white tank top that I can wear under the sheer blouse, and she leads me to the dressing room.
As I unwrap the blouse from its hanger and take off my sun dress, I'm momentarily brought back to reality. I can't really ask this stranger to buy such an expensive outfit for me. Why is he even doing this? He can't really be that lonely, can he?
Slipping the skirt on over my hips, I realize that it sits a bit awkwardly with my bathing suit. I consider my options, and decide removing the bikini bottom would be best. I slip them off, checking and double checking that I'm not showing off more than
I should. This damn dressing room doesn't have a mirror in it, which makes it hard to be sure.
I then remove my bikini top, my breasts falling free before I slip the silky tank top over my head and down my torso, tucking a half inch of the fabric into my skirt. The blouse is next, but I leave that untucked.
Slipping on the shoes, I admire them on my feet. Yeah, I'm totally letting Alex buy me these.
As I step out of the dressing room, Alex has his back to me. I nervously throw my long hair over my shoulder and give a quiet cough to let him know I'm ready for him to see me. He turns around and lets out a near silent gasp. His eyes are wide and I wonder if maybe he can see that I'm not wearing my bikini bottoms anymore, so I quickly turn to face the mirror.
I immediately know why he gasped. The clothes actually look perfect on me, something I never thought I'd be able to say. It's always been a struggle to find clothes that fit my frame, something I'm pretty ashamed of. But this outfit, it's perfection.
"You look..." Alex trails off while staring at me, looking me up and down and admiring my whole body. I can't help but blush, my heartbeat picking up again but in a pleasant way.
"Thanks," I mumble, turning to admire myself in the mirror some more.
"I don't want you to take those clothes off. Go get your stuff from the dressing room while I pay."
I nod and wander off, leaving Alex to deal with Cheryl. I'm positively glowing, buzzing with happiness. But with something else, too. In the back of my mind, it's eating away at me that I'm starting to really like Alex. I'm enjoying my time with him more than I have with anyone else.
With my sundress stuffed in my purse, I find Alex at the door waiting for me. We both wave to Cheryl before heading out to the street. I check my watch again- 10:47 PM. My eyes trail up to the sky, the moon glowing almost full. It's so hard to see the stars at night in the city.
"So," he says. "What now? I'd be willing to drink some wine and watch some reality TV at my house with you. I have a few shows taped."
"Sounds good to me!" The words come out almost like a chirp. As we walk to his car, our arms are nearly touching, our bodies becoming closer with each step. I again loop my arm around his, resting my head and closing my eyes for a second while we wait for a traffic light change at the corner of a busy street. What a kind man, I think.
A Billionaire's Heart (Erotic Romance Bundle) Page 2